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RWC 2015 Preview: Wales v Fiji

rwc2015Eight years after a shock Fiji win led to Warren Gatland
becoming Welsh coach the sides meet again in a crucial Rugby World Cup pool game.

POOL A – Match #21 – Wales v Fiji
 WAL1fiji1
Overall Stats Wales vs Overall Stats Fiji
Average Score :   Wales 30.60 vs 13.20 Fiji
Games Played 10 Games Played 10
*Games Won 8 *Games Won 1
*Games Lost 1 *Games Lost 8
Games Drawn 1 Games Drawn 1
*Longest.Winning.Streak 6 *Longest.Winning.Streak 1
*Longest Losing Streak 1 *Longest Losing Streak 6
*Largest Points For 66 *Largest Points For 38
*Largest Points Against 38 *Largest Points Against 66
*Largest.Winning.Margin 66 *Largest.Winning.Margin 4
*Largest Losing Margin -4 *Largest Losing Margin -66
*Total Points For 306 *Total Points For 132
*Avg Points For 30.6 *Avg Points For 13.2
*Total Points Against 132 *Total Points Against 306
*Avg Points Against 13.2 *Avg Points Against 30.6
*Total Points Difference 174 *Total Points Difference -174
*Avg Points Difference 17.40 *Avg Points Difference -17.40
* = By Wales * = By Fiji
Past Meetings
15-Nov-14 Wales 17 13 Fiji Cardiff, Wales
2-Oct-11 Wales 66 0 Fiji Hamilton, New Zealand
19-Nov-10 Wales 16 16 Fiji Cardiff, Wales
29-Sep-07 Wales 34 38 Fiji Nantes, France
11-Nov-05 Wales 11 10 Fiji Cardiff, Wales
9-Nov-02 Wales 58 14 Fiji Cardiff, Wales
11-Nov-95 Wales 19 15 Fiji Cardiff, Wales
18-Jun-94 Fiji 8 23 Wales Suva, Fiji
31-May-86 Fiji 15 22 Wales Suva, Fiji
9-Nov-85 Wales 40 3 Fiji Cardiff, Wales

POSSIBLE RR World Rankings outcome on Result

WAL (on 87.29 points) at home -vs- FIJ (on 76.29 points) in a RWC match

Possible Outcome Rating Point
Exchange
New WAL
Rating
New FIJ
Rating
Will FIJ
overtake WAL?
If WAL win by 1-15 points 0.000 87.29 76.29 No
If WAL win by more than 15 0.000 87.29 76.29 No
If result is a draw 2.000 85.29 78.29 No
If FIJ win by 1-15 points 4.000 83.29 80.29 No
If FIJ win by more than 15 6.000 81.29 82.29 Yes

In 2007 in Nantes, the Fijians won a thrilling encounter 38-34, costing Gareth Jenkins his job and sending the Welsh crashing out of the tournament.

Following Saturday’s win over England, an unlikely loss wouldn’t end Wales’ hopes, but it would undo a lot of the good work they did at Twickenham.

For that reason Gatland has gone with a near full-strength side, taking into account the horrific run of injuries that have affected the side.

Tyler Morgan is the latest centre to be given a shot, while maverick fly-half Matthew Morgan gets the nod at full-back as Wales try to cope with their latest casualties, Scott Williams and Hallam Amos having been ruled out of the rest of the tournament.

However it may be absences on the Fiji side that prove just as crucial, with Nemani Nadolo suspended and Nikola Matawalu missing with a calf problem.

In his time in charge of Wales, Gatland has never lost to tier two opposition, with the only defeats during that time coming when Rob Howley coached the team against Japan and Samoa.

Fiji are certainly a much better team than they were four years ago, when they were hammered 66-0, but with only pride left to play for, it remains to be seen if they can spring a surprise.

Of course they have had a much longer preparation time, having not played since their loss to Australia in Cardiff a week ago.

In that game they were the side coming off a four-day turnaround so theoretically they should have the upper hand from a fitness standpoint.

That wasn’t the case in their opening game against England however, where they faded in the last ten minutes, while Wales did the complete opposite in their comeback win.

Wales have slipped up in games like this in the past, but it’s yet to happen under Gatland, and with some key men out, it seems unlikely Fiji will become the first to do so.

The teams:

  • Wales: 15 Matthew Morgan, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
    Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Aaron Jarvis, 18 Samson Lee, 19 Luke Charteris, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 James Hook.
  • Fiji: 15 Metuisela Talebula, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Vereniki Goneva, 12 Lepani Botia, 11 Aseli Tikoirotuma, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Netani Talei, 7 Akapusi Qera (c), 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Tevita Cavubati, 3 Manasa Saulo, 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Campese Maafu.
    Replacements: 16 Viliame Veikoso, 17 Peni Ravia, 18 Leeroy Atalifo, 19 Nemia Soqeta, 20 Malakai Ravulo, 21 Henry Seniloli, 22 Joshua Matavesi, 23 Kini Murimurivalu.
  • Date: Thursday, October 1
  • Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
  • Kick-off: 16:45 local
  • Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
  • Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Mathieu Raynal (France)
  • TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)

 


  • Full Pool Previews – Click Individual Pool Below

poolA2015poolB2015

poolC2015poolD2015


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